January 10th

“When you’re struggling on offense, you had better play better on defense and rebound good and we did that tonight,” said Long, the third-year head coach at Tech. “I was pleased with our effort defensively and in rebounding and, really, our overall play.
“In the first half, we didn’t attack their half court trap well and we missed some shots, but I thought we did a better job in the second half.”

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January 9th

A 10-0 regular season record, 12-1 mark overall, a regular season scoring average of 37.5 points, a final ranking of No. 1 in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association poll for Class 1-A and two postseason victories.
In the aftermath of such outstanding achievements, the Cougars have reaped their share of individual honors, the latest being their representation on The Ruston Daily Leader’s Lincoln Parish “Elite 22” team..
Four of the Cougars’ names are on the individual awards.
Running back Sean Dwyer was named as the recipient of the Bert Jones Most Valuable

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These fans from across the state and the country had the opportunity to be re-introduced to New Orleans, a city working to bounce back from Hurricane Katrina’s destruction.
Although a few hundred miles separate Lincoln Parish from New Orleans, the success of that city is directly tied to the success of our state as a whole.
We want to see New Orleans thrive as a center of music, art, food and culture and continue to be a destination for major events like the national championship game.
The LSU Tigers’ victory was that much sweeter because it was achieved on “home turf.”

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That figure is the product of 489,000 claims filed thus far, and the claims keep coming. That hard-to-pronounce figure absolutely dwarfs the U.S. gross domestic product — a paltry $13 trillion or so last year.
It puts a lot into perspective to look at a number that high, but it’s also a complete joke to me. Each claim is being tallied and given its due consideration, but at the end of the day, it’s just a bit more odd-ball press coming out of Louisiana on this unimaginable tragedy.

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“Number one, baby!” shouted Tigers’ head coach Les Miles. “We’re all proud to be representing the state of Louisiana, winning the national championship in our own state and finishing a remarkable season in this great city, where we also finished last year with a win.
“But as nice as it was winning the Sugar Bowl (41-14 over Notre Dame) last year, this one, of course, is the sweetest. It’s great being here and even greater being able to take this trophy back to Baton Rouge and to all of the great fans we have there and all over this state and nation.”

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January 8th

In other business, Code Enforcement Officer Mitch Dufour obtained permission to take action regarding four substandard structures, giving the owners 90 days to either remove the structures, demolish them or bring them up to code. In the case of a structure located at 1105 McDonald Ave., Dufour said the owner had indicated a desire to remodel, which pleased alderman Elmore Mayfield.
“I agree that this is a piece of property that can be rehabilitated,” Mayfield said. “It is one that can be saved.”
Dufour echoed similar sentiments regarding a structure located at 614 Eastland Ave.

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Rike batted .346 and led the conference in home runs (20), total bases (153), runs batted in (66) and runs scored (74).
His productivity played a key role in the Bulldogs compiling an overall record of 35-24, including a 22-11 slate at games held on their home turf of J.C. Love Field, and reaching the WAC postseason tournament with a league mark of 14-10.
Such numbers, success and contributions are also major factors in Rike being named as The Ruston Daily Leader college Male Athlete of the Year for Lincoln Parish.

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The month of January is Birth Defects Prevention Month, which is sponsored by the National Birth Defects Prevention Network. It aims to decrease the number of babies born with birth defects across the country by raising awareness about birth defects and strategies for their prevention such as taking a multivitamin with folic acid to prevent serious defects of the brain and spinal cord. By educating women on the steps to take to ensure a healthy pregnancy, many birth defects can be prevented.

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As part of its mission, the LTCS strives to increase the opportunities for Louisiana’s workforce to succeed through skills training programs.
The enhancements to the construction and nursing programs prove the system administrators are working to achieve that mission.
The community and technical college system makes post-secondary education accessible for many people who may not have the means or desire to enter a university. It also provides training for workers who want to change careers, or for students who want to eventually enter one of the state’s universities.

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While many were still sound asleep, Martin was already beginning his day.
“I woke up at 6:45 a.m. to eat breakfast and get a slow start,” he said.
Tyson Warkow, a junior industrial engineering major, and Branson Sparks, a senior economics major, were also among the early birds on campus today. Warkow, whose class started at 9:30 a.m., said he got up early in search of one hot commodity.
“I needed coffee,” he said.

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